On June 6, 2026, Archbishop Borys Gudziak participated virtually in the Global Ukrainian Summit held in Bern, Switzerland. Organized by the Ukrainian World Congress in cooperation with the Ukrainian Society of Switzerland, the summit brought together representatives of Ukrainian communities, civic organizations, and other institutions from around the world to discuss the future of Ukraine and the role of the global Ukrainian community.
In his presentation, Archbishop Borys reflected on the role of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church as a network of communities, emphasizing its importance in preserving Ukrainian identity and supporting civil society in Ukraine and beyond.
The Archbishop noted that the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church consists of 16 eparchies and exarchates in Ukraine and 20 church jurisdictions outside Ukraine. In places where no formal church structures exist, pastoral ministry is carried out through the Pastoral-Migration Department. According to Archbishop Borys, there are approximately 1,500 Ukrainian Greek Catholic parishes and more than 400 schools outside Ukraine.
The Metropolitan also reflected on the history of the Ukrainian Church’s presence in the diaspora. He recalled the first Ukrainian Greek Catholic parish in the United States — St. Michael’s Parish in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania — founded by Ukrainian immigrants 142 years ago. He noted that Ukrainian parishes in the diaspora have fulfilled not only a religious role but also cultural and social functions from their very beginning.
Speaking about the role of the diaspora, Archbishop Borys emphasized the importance of preserving and strengthening Ukrainian institutions abroad. He noted that the experience of Soviet occupation demonstrated that what had been preserved in the diaspora could later be revived in Ukraine. As examples, he cited Plast, the Ukrainian Catholic University, and the Church itself.
The Archbishop also addressed the question of national unity and the shared values capable of bringing Ukrainians together across different countries. He stressed the importance of pursuing a common purpose that extends beyond personal suffering and inspires responsible service to society.
Archbishop Borys also reflected on the theme of human dignity, considering who the human person is within God’s plan. He emphasized that reflecting on what it means to be Ukrainian is inseparable from understanding what it means to be human. According to the Archbishop, this means loving people, loving Ukraine, and serving the God-given dignity of every person.
Education was another key theme of his presentation. Archbishop Borys highlighted opportunities for the development of Ukrainian studies abroad and emphasized the importance of a deeper understanding of Ukrainian history. He noted that in order to explain to the world who Ukrainians are, Ukrainians themselves must know their own history, strive for deeper understanding, and devote time and effort to learning. He also underscored the need to support Ukrainian institutions that represent Ukraine in the world through knowledge, expertise, agency, and dignity.
